Machine for flattening or straightening book covers or cases and the like



Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

3 'SHEETS-SHEET 1- F/GJ.

//v l/EN TOR JaH/v /vl um? LlMURRAY.

MACHINE FOR FLATTENING 0R STRAIGHTENING BOOK COVERS 0R CASES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,192].

J. MURRAY.

MACHINE FOR FLATTENING 0R STRAIGHTENING BOOK COVERS 0R CASES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATl ON FILED JUNE 20. 192].

1,424,583. P n Aug. 1, 19 2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- //VYENTO(? I J'OHN MUKRH/ '1. MURRAY. MACHINE FOR FLATTE NING 0R STRAIGHTENING BOOK COVERS 0R CASESAND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FlLEb JUNE 20, I92].

1,424,583. 7 Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

3SHEETSSHEET 3.

IN YEA/TOR JOHN M s JOHN MURRAY, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

MACHINE non rLerrENINe or. STRAIGHTENING- BOOK covnns on cases AND TI-IE LIKE.

Application filed. June 20,

Specification of letters Eatent. Pat gntigd Aug, 1, 1922,,

1.92 Serial No. 478,898.

(GRANTED UNDER THE raovrsrons or THE ACT or Manon 3, 1921, 41 s'rar. L., 1313.

covered with cloth or other material arekept until the glue securing that covering material is dry, the sides of the boards upon which the material is attached curl up owing to its contraction, and the boards assume a hollow or basin-like shape. For the subseuent ooerations noon the cases it is nec-' essary that they should be flat. Usually they are fiattenedby hand, which not only is a lengthy operation, but often leads to damage owing to the rough treatment the cases receive.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple machine for effectively flattening the cases in a uniform manner, without risk of damage and with the expenditure of very much less time.

A machine made according to the invention comprises essentially rolls parallel with one another and with their axes lying in the apices of a common triangle. The rolls are sufiiciently closely adjacent toengage a case ted between them and thus act after the manner of a sheet-metal straightening machine. But, as the bending effect (by which straightening is attained) is due to two of the rolls folding the case around the periphery of the third roll, it is apparent that the entering and leaving edges will not be eflectively bent for a distance equal to the distance between the points of contact between each of the two rolls and what may be termed the intermediate roll. In order to obviate this disability, and to ensure that substantially the whole of the case shall be subjected to this reverse bending (which has the effect of straightening) the two bending rolls are each subdivided into a series of short rolls or collars, the collars on one roll intermeshing with the collars of the other-that is to say, the collars of each roll being set into the spaces between the collars of the other roll. Alternatively, the

rolls may have out upon them comparatively deep square screw threads of similar hand "and may be so set that the threads interfor presenting successive cases of a series to the rolls in correct position for their straightening byreve'rse bending in their passage through them.

Anv example illustrative of one method of carrying out the invention is shewn onthree accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, in which Figures 1, 2 and 3, sheets 1 and 2 are, respectively a side elevation, an end elevation, and a plan of a complete machine, while Figures and 5, sheet 3 shew the straightening rolls to an enlarged scale in plan respecside (or end) elevation and tively.

In this example the cases to be treated are arranged with their covered faces (that is their hollow sides) downwards in a vertical pile within a hopper A. The hopper is formed by side members A front members A and base bars A on the latter of which the'lowermost case in the hopper rests. The various members of the hopper are supported by distance rods located between side plates l3 carried on a pedestal C. The front members A are vertically adjustable by means of set screws A to vary the opening at the base of the hopper throughwhich the lowermost case is fed, and thus permit of cases of diflerent thickness being handled.

The cases are fed forward, one at a time, from the hopper A to the straightening rolls D, E, F, by means of reciprocating pusher blocks G, The blocks G are secured to a slide G which is mounted on transverse guide rods G and provided on its underside with a rack G The rack G is engaged by a toothed quadrant H adapted to be reciprocated by means (if an arm H connecting rod H and crank shaft H the latter being driven from a main driving shaft D on which the roll D is mounted.

The intermediate roll E which has a plain surface, is arranged above the bending rolls D, F and is maintained in resilient contact therewith by adjustable springs E attached at one end to the axle bearings E 'of the roll E, and at the other to the machine frame. I In order to bring the axes of the rolls D, F as closely together as possible, and for the purposes hereinbefore described, each roll is subdivided into a series of short collars D F the collars D intermeshing with the spaces between the collars F of the roll F. The roll D is supported in bearings in the side plates B while the roll F is ournalled in bearings carried inthe arms of bell-crank levers I fulcrumed in bushes on the driving shaft D Between the other ends of the levers F and fixed points F on the framing, are arranged springs F in compression the latter being adjustable and tending to maintain the periphery of the roll F-in contact with that of the rolls D and E.

Theshaft D flon which the roll D is mounted, forms the main driving'shaft of the machine, the roll F being positively driven from this shaft by spur wheels J, while the roll E is purely a follower, driven by frictional contact from the other two rolls.

As each case is fed forward from the hopper A by the pusher blocks G, it is engaged by the nip of the rolls D, E, and subjected to an upward bending action around the periphery of the roll E, the bending being thus applied in a direction opposite to that induced by'the contraction of the glue securing the covering materialto the boards of the-case. This neutralising eflect, that the actual amount of upward bending to which the case is subjected, may be varied by adjustment of the springs E The cases are discharged fromthe nip of the rolls E,

F, to a receiver K supported on a distance rod between the side plates B. The receiver is downwardly inclined towards the front end K and also towardsthe side K thereof, thus providing for gravitational arrange ment of the dischargedcases in an orderly pile within the receiver. v The side plates B are adjustablymounted on the pedestal C to allow of the machine as a whole being worked at any desired angle.

. WVhat I claim is i 1. A machine for flattening'or straightening book-coversaor cases and the like comprising three parallel rolls with their axes passing through the apices of a common triangle, and so positioned relative to one another as to engage a case fed between them; intermeshing means between the peripheries of two of the rolls adapted to bring the axes thereof more closely adjacent and still permit of adjacent surfaces of the two rolls moving in opposite directions; means for feeding the cases'successively to the rolls; and means for driving the rolls; as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A machine for flattening or straightening book covers or cases and the like, comprising three parallel rolls with their axes passing through the apices of a common triangle, and so positioned relative to one an other as to engage acase fed between them, the faces of two ofsaid rolls being circumferentially grooved and the ribs so formed intermeshing to bring the axes of said rolls matter of claim 1 hereof, a hopper adapted j to receive the cases to be handled face clownwards ina vertical pile and apertured at its base to afford a discharge port through which one case at a time may be removed,

means reciprocated parallel with and adjacent the bottom of the hopper and adapted to engage the lowermost case therein and convey it forward to the rolls, and a receiver beyond the rolls into which the straightened cases are discharged.

4;. In the mechanism forming the subjectmatter of claim 1 hereof, means for varying the neutralising or counter-bending action of the rolls, comprising tensionally "adjustablesprings constraining the periphery of one roll against that'of the two intermeshing rolls, as set forth.

5. In the mechanism forming the subjectmatter of claim 1 hereof bell-crank levers fulcrumed on the axis ofone intermeshing roll, the arms of the lovers on one side of the fulcrum carryingthe bearings of the other intermeshing roll, and the arms on the other side of the fulcrum so acted upon by springs in compression as to maintain the periphery of the latter roll in resilient contact with that of the other rolls, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

